22 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



given her, but on no account should the 

 child be allowed to clutch at anything 

 to assist in preserving her balance. It 

 is that she shall not rely on the horse's 

 mouth for balance that I have advocated 

 keeping the reins from her, and it is a 

 plan which men and women would do 

 well to adopt. Dependence on the reins 

 is one of the commonest faults in riding, 

 and every one should practise trotting 

 (and even jumping, if the horse be trac- 

 table) with folded arms, while the reins 

 are left hanging on the animal's neck, 

 knotted so they will not fall too low. 

 If the importance of riding from bal- 

 ance above the waist were more gener- 

 ally recognized, the seat would of ne- 

 cessity be firmer, the hands lighter, and 

 horses less fretful. 



Too much emphasis cannot be put on 

 the importance of good hands. Good 

 hands are hands made so by riding 



